HOPE for HEROES
Serving those who serve and their families

The Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care is launching a new program called HOPE for HEROES to provide FREE counseling for military personnel and their family members who have unmet mental health needs as a result of service in Iraq or Afghanistan.  The Samaritan Center received a $300,000 two-year grant from the Texas Resources for Iraq and Afghanistan Deployment (TRIAD) Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation. The grant will allow us to send outreach counselors to provide mental health services in homes, churches, and other non-traditional settings for military families located in Williamson, Travis and Hays counties.  Home services will be especially important for those who have mobility problems due to combat injuries.

This is a new program and the first of its kind in our community.  There have been several recent articles in the Austin American Statesman and other publications about the need for mental health care for our combat vets and their families.  Some estimate the number of our returning soldiers and family members that are struggling with depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, family violence, suicide, addiction and other problems are as high as 75%.   Many of these men and women returning from combat who need counseling are hesitant to use traditional sources for fear it will be reported on their military record.  We offer completely free and confidential services.

We ask you to help spread the word about the Samaritan Center's HOPE for HEROES program. This program  can help save families and lives.  In addition, this is an extraordinary opportunity to serve the brave men and women who serve us and need our help when they return home.

For more information call Nancy Blaich at 512-451-7337 ext. 112 or Michele Riggs at 512-633-HOPE (4673)